One-Pan Wonders: 6 Bar Cookie Recipes

The bar cookie is a beautiful thing. Same handheld gem as a regular cookie but far less scooping and dropping. Emma's Sour Cream Raisin Bars whetted our appetite for some interesting recipes, and Bon Appétit happens to have an entire slideshow.

Bar cookies are also travel friendly. You can leave them in the pan and cut them when you get to the party (whether it's across town or in your backyard), or you can stack them (with waxed or parchment paper in between layers). They're sturdy, rarely break, and make a great foundation for a scoop of ice cream.

Bon Appétit has a few of the standbys, like blondies and brownies, but there are also Lemon Cheesecake Squares with Fresh Berries (above), Gingerbread Bars, and a twist on lemon squares—Coconut-Lime Bars with Hazelnut Shortbread Crust. Hm, those sound a little bit like these.